Historic Art & Architecture Vocabulary in German
How to Describe German, Swiss, and Austrian Artwork and Buildings
Mar 16, 2009
Want to make the most of your time exploring churches, art museums, and other historic buildings in Germany, Switzerland, or Austria? Learn a few art history terms and general artistic terms in German! Become familiar with ways to talk about art (die Kunst) and architecture (Architektur).
Eras of Art History in German
Many buildings in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, as in most of the rest of Europe, have survived for centuries. Here are the terms for some common architecture eras in the region. For each term, the first German one listed is the adjective and the second is the noun.
- Baroque: barock, das Barock
- Rococo: rokoko, das Rokoko
- Gothic: gotisch, die Gotik
- Romanesque: romanisch, die Romanik
To learn even more names for artistic periods, check out LEO Online for a fantastic dictionary listing of terms.
General Architecture Terms
Towns were often built around the church, and as such, are often common attractions for art history enthusiasts. Today, the church still serves as the centerpiece to many towns, as there is almost always one located in a main square.
- building: das Gebäude
- cathedral: der Dom
- church: die Kirche
- interior wall: die Wand
- exterior wall or high enclosing wall, as outside a castle: die Mauer
- castle/palace: das Schloss (as in the famous Schloss Neuschwanstein in Bavaria).
- fortress: die Festung (such as the Festung that sits on a hill high above Salzburg).
Terms like this can also be useful when asking someone for directions in German, i.e. if you would like to know how to get to a particular church.
Words and Phrases for Sculptures and Paintings
And, of course, churches, town squares, and other structures contain or are adorned with art. The German-speaking world is also home to some fantastic art museums, including the Belvedere in Vienna. Learn how to sound like an art expert when inside a museum:
- sculpture: die Skulptur
- marble: der Marmor
- stone: der Stein, die Steine
- wall painting/mural: die Malerei
- painter: der Maler
- plaster: der Pflaster
As a side note, some art terms in Italian, such as fresco, are also used in German just as they are in English. Most names of artists also have universal pronunciations, though there may be a few exceptions. Keep in mind, however, that the names of paintings or sculptures may have a different name in German, so be sure to also know the name of the artist if looking for a particular work.
Take any of these terms to a German-speaking country and sound like an expert when talking about works of art and architecture. Knowing how to say and use certain words can also be useful when trying to navigate a new city or locate a specific work of art.
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